Space rockets are fueling new conflict between China and The Philippines. On December 17, for the third time in the past two months, the Philippine Coast Guard found debris from Chinese space rockets within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in an area claimed by China. One of the incidents, on November 20, was followed by a confrontation between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine Navy, in which China violated international law. China’s rocket debris has rained down on villages in Africa, closed Spanish airspace, and created dangerous conditions all over the world. The U.S. must back the Philippines in promoting international law in the South China Sea, and in promoting international space law to protect safety on earth.
On November 20, the Chinese Coast Guard came into direct conflict with a civilian vessel, manned by Philippine navy personnel, that was towing rocket debris about 800 yards off of The Philippines’ Pag-Asa island. The incident occurred in an area of The Philippines’ EEZ that is claimed by China. After spotting the debris, Philippine sailors took a rubber boat to retrieve it. Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5203 approached and twice blocked its pre-planned course. Vessel 5203 then deployed an inflatable boat with personnel who severed the tow line and forcibly seized the debris, in violation of international maritime law. A Philippine officer asked his Chinese counterparts to stop, but received no response. The Philippine sailors decided to return to Pag-Asa. No one was injured in the incident. China denies that any forcible seizure occurred and claims that the Philippine navy handed over the rocket debris after a “friendly consultation” for which China expressed “appreciation,” according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.The Philippine Senate expressed “disgust” and condemned China’s “bullying.”
On December 12, in response to the incident, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest with the Chinese embassy—one of 189 this year. The incident occurs against the backdrop of other Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, including vessel swarming in hydrocarbon-rich areas and potentially the building of new, illegal artificial islands. China’s actions are calculated to slowly erode The Philippines’ sovereignty and harm its strategic position, as China shows that it can claim and act in the Philippines’ EEZ with impunity, without military contestation, and even use it as a waste dump for its space junk.